Ellwood Thompson's Local Market

Ellwood’s History

Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market has a long and interesting history in organic and natural foods in Richmond, Virginia. Many local residents will remember the first incarnation of the store, although it was nothing like the Ellwood Thompson’s of today.

In the mid 1980′s, Eric Walters, an employee of Grace Place, Richmond’s first vegetarian restaurant, began selling supplements, vitamins and a very limited selection of specialty natural products from a small corner of the restaurant. By the end of the 1980s it was time to expand.

Rick Hood, a local architect, was in the process of renovating a neighborhood shopping center. Together Hood and Walters opened City Market — a small 3,000 square foot full-service community grocery store located near Patterson and Libbie avenues — to serve Richmonders hungry for organic and natural groceries. The store also featured organic produce and a small takeout deli.

Then in 1993 City Market moved to a larger space in Carytown. Shortly after moving, the store was renamed based on the suggestion of an employee’s 12-year-old daughter. Although many believe the store is owned by Mr. Ellwood Thompson, it’s actually named after the streets that intersect where the store is located, Ellwood Avenue and Thompson Street. Later, Walters decided to pursue new interests and Hood became the sole owner of the market. Since then, Hood has become deeply committed to the store’s mission of community and environmental practices. He also guides the store’s expansion and continuing improvements.

The store continued to expand after its move to Carytown. Starting at just 5,000 square feet, the market grew in phases to its present size of 15,000 square feet, making it the largest independent organic grocery not only in Richmond, but in all of Virginia. The store that began with one staff member now employees nearly 135.

In 2009 Ellwood Thompson’s was proud to add two new additions, Ellwood’s Bakeshop and Ellwood’s Coffee, Community Place. Ellwood’s Bakeshop, located across Thompson Street from the store, produces all of our delicious natural baked goods, which are available both at Ellwood Thompson’s Local Market and Ellwood’s Coffee.

Ellwood’s Coffee features organic, fair trade, and locally roasted coffees, organic and local teas, and organic, biodynamic and local beers and wines to drink, as well as breakfast, lunch and dinner items to dine on.

During our 2009 expansion we commissioned Richmond artist Ed Trask to add murals to our storefront depicting Ellwood Thompson’s strong commitment to the farm to table movement. As a local independent market we pride ourselves on the ability to support small family-owned farms in our community, as well as local artists and Richmond’s thriving culture.

Ellwood Thompson’s principles have remained consistent throughout these changes and although conventional grocery stores have added natural grocery sections, Ellwood Thompson’s remains the leading source of healthy and local foods in Richmond. To this day, we continue to work directly with local farmers, visiting them and learning their methods. We are directly supporting our community through our business choices, animal welfare, the environment, the arts and everything that helps people discover and celebrate a healthy relationship to food.